There must be a better way (oh, wait, there is) to settle games as stupendously thrilling as Sunday’s Super Bowl in Houston.

I know that sounds silly considering, out of 50, it may have been the best one played.

This isn’t about the outcome, or sour grapes against New England winning. Yes, I wanted Atlanta to win but, as a kid, I also wanted a Kawasaki 125 one year for my birthday. Didn’t get that either.

This isn’t about that. In fact, the better team won. New England’s comeback from 28-3 down should be regarded as one of all-time greatest.

Unlike politics these days, in sports there are no “alternative facts.” In my profession, “scoreboard” dictates.

Don’t like quarterback Tom Brady because of his model-wife or political views? Tough. He’s won five Super Bowls and can now be considered the best of all time.

Don’t like Bill Belichick because he sulks in lumpy, hooded sweatshirts and is tougher to beat information out of than a KGB agent?

Too bad. He can now be considered the greatest football coach ever, at any level.

What I can argue, however, is that the NFL continues to have the single, dumbest overtime rule in history, and that includes rock, paper and scissors.

You mean to tell me, after reporting to camp in July and then battling your jock strap off through months of agony and injuries, the most important moment of the season is going to be decided by a coin flip?

Give me a break. That’s dumber than Lloyd Christmas in “Dumb And Dumber.”

College football’s overtime rule can be criticized, what with each team starting on the other’s 25-yard line. The rest of this article is available to subscribers only – to become a subscriber click here.

About The Author

Dufresne, spent 35 years at the Los Angeles Times covering numerous sports. Over the last two decades he emerged as their national college football and basketball columnist. He and his alter-ego Rankman have been putting college teams in their place ever since.